THE BOOK FAIR
READ AND FULFILL YOUR LIFE
Maggie Anton
RASHI'S DAUGHTERS BOOK 1: JOHEVED
Author: Maggie Anton
Published: 2009
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 245
Review:
Book One: Joheved
“Joheved”, the first book in Maggie Anton’s historical fiction trilogy, centers on Joheved, Salomon ben Isaac’s, eldest daughter.
In the year, 1068 in Troyes, France, Salomon ben Isaac, known as Rashi, returned home from his Torah study in Germany, to tend to his families wine vineyards. Rashi , a renowned scholar, has no sons and a boundless love for Torah, so begins to teach his daughter, Joheved, the Talmud. Miriam, in watching Joheved learn the Torah and have special time with their father, insists on learning as well.
Rashi explains to his daughter’s the basic concept in Judaism, that there is no original sin. In the Bible, the Hebrew word Yotzar, meaning formed, and the word Yetzer, meaning desire are spelled the same. Man-kind, created by G-d, was given the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, and therefore has the knowledge to make decisions and the responsibility to choose between good or evil.
Joheved marries Meir ben Samuel, one of Rashi’s brightest students, and later presents him with a son.
The book, rich in detail of life in medieval times denotes foods, drink, and habits of cleanliness as well as burial rites, sexual mores, restrictions, expectations, sensuality and love. Anton describes the relationships between family members as well as the interactions between Jews and Christians. Throughout Europe, and the Middle East, Jews were subject to the respect and consideration of the rulers.
Jews were also heavily involved in trade which gave them access to knowledge of different communities, lands, languages, cultures and the products of spices, materials, silks, dyes, jewelry and more. Set during the time of the First Crusade, the Jewish community in Troyes fear for their community as well as other Jewish communities in France and throughout Europe.
Rashi is the first scholar to write commentaries on the Talmud, the interpretations of the Torah.
RASHI'S DAUGHTERS BOOK 11: MIRIAM
Author: Maggie Anton
Published: 2007
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover: Paperback
Pages: 467
Review:
Book Two: Miriam
In Anton’s second novel in the trilogy, Miriam becomes a Talmudic scholar.
Miriam, engaged to be married when her intended suddenly dies, begins the search for what she expects from life and wants she to do in her life. Events lead Miriam to decide to become a midwife. Sometime later, she decides she will become a mohel, one who performs circumcision. Both professions are unheard of for women.
Miriam marries Judah, a prominent scholar and former student of her father.
The book centers on the way of life in medieval times, in Troyes. In 1078, the Jewish community survives by adhering to custom and religion. Daily life is explained in detail including what foods were consumed, rules of cleanliness, dress codes and also sexual mores. The gathering of fresh moss is always a must for personal cleanliness; rules exacting times of the month when husband and wife may couple; rules of no milk and meat cooked or consumed together, foods for holidays, and prayers over hand washing, eating, rising and sleeping, as well as customs for burial.
Life during the medieval age was heavily circumscribed by religion. The book is full of superstitious folklore, common in the medieval time. Entertained in Anton’s novel is that Rashi’s son-in-law was homosexual, although no documentation exists.
The Talmud is the basis for all code of Jewish Law and is the interpretation of rabbis on different subjects of the law. Rashi’s commentaries on the Talmud are studied by Talmudic scholars.